The Hoover Powerdash Pet Compact carpet cleaner was a relief to use after testing some of the larger, best carpet cleaners. It’s more than a handheld pet spot-removing machine but less than a full-sized machine, which can be overwhelming.
The Hoover Powerdash Pet Compact was about average in stain removal and clearing dried-on grape juice, and it did just fine on dirt, too. An average performance from a carpet cleaner this inexpensive is impressive and surprising. Even more surprising was how well water was removed from carpets. It removed 24 ounces at the same time that some machines extracted less than 10 ounces. This means that you can avoid soggy carpets.
With many vacuum cleaner reviews under her belt, Angie Parkinson is the perfect person to test the Hoover Powerdash Pet Compact carpet cleaner.
When not testing products for TTR she plans improvements for her quirky 103-year-old home and goes hiking in the gorgeous Utah mountains.
Hoover Powerdash Pet Compact: Performance
This machine’s compact design makes it a nice option if you regularly need to carry it to the second or third floor. It weighs just 13 pounds, the lightest machine being the Bissell PowerForce PowerBrush.
I took the Powerdash Pet Compact to my home and brought it back to the lab, and it was the easiest to transport by far. It also got a perfect score for maneuverability, because it was so easy to move it around furniture and other obstacles.
Everything was in smaller proportions for this machine, including the cord, which was only 10 feet long—shorter than any other. You will have to constantly find a new plug on bigger jobs. The tank is also small, holding only 2 quarts, whereas others hold up to four. The cleaning path was also noticeably small, at 10 inches. If you need to clean a large area, consider one with a larger cleaning path, such as the Hoover Max Extract 60 Pressure Pro.
There's no room for extras on a machine this small, so you don't get a hose or any accessories for getting into corners or cleaning stairs and furniture. This is just for dealing with soiled carpets, specifically those with pet stains.
This had the highest scores for maintenance and ease of use. You don't even have to measure out soap. You fill the tank to the water line and then add soap until it reaches the soap line, and you're ready to clean. Tasks like emptying the tank were also easy.
None of our carpet cleaners were quiet overall, but this one was better than most. Only two produced less sound: the Bissell PowerLifter Powerbrush and the Rug Doctor Deep Carpet Cleaner.
Should you buy the Hoover Powerdash Pet Compact carpet cleaner?
Hoover offers lots of options for customer support, but the warranty on this machine is only one year. Other machines offered more coverage, though they also cost more, so that is to be expected.
The Hoover Powerdash Pet Compact is the perfect machine for the owner of a new puppy. We liked it better than the handheld spot vacs, which are popular because they are on wheels. Roll it over to the mess and it should be gone in just a few passes.
